Establish Separate MSHSL Conferences for Public and Private Schools.

 

The purpose of this act is to ensure fairness and competitive balance in Minnesota high school athletics. Public schools

often face disadvantages competing against private schools that can draw students from larger areas and recruit more

freely. Establishing separate conferences will create more equitable competition and uphold the integrity of high school

sports.

 

This act addresses growing concerns about competitive imbalance in Minnesota high school athletics. Private schools

often have advantages due to their ability to draw students from broader geographic areas, offer selective admissions,

and recruit student-athletes without being bound by district lines. Public schools, by contrast, are limited to students

within their attendance boundaries and generally have fewer resources to attract athletic talent. This creates an uneven

playing field that impacts competitive fairness and the morale of student-athletes. According to the Minnesota State

High School League, more than 224,000 students participated in athletics during the 2023-24 school year, ranking

Minnesota 10th nationally. Meanwhile, CBS News states that within the last 10 years in boys hockey, the smaller “Class

A” state tournaments, private schools made up roughly 10% of participants but won about 70% of championships. Another

source shows that from 2006-2019, in the Class A state tournament for Girls Tennis, 100% of championships were awarded

to private schools. These sources show that although participation is widespread, the outcomes are not balanced, with

private schools often dominating despite representing a minority of total MSHSL membership. This issue is especially

critical for Class A schools, which are typically located in smaller towns and have limited student populations to draw

from. In these divisions, even a slight advantage in recruiting range or resources can create a major competitive gap.

While Class AA and larger schools may have larger student bodies and more resources, imbalances still exist: private

schools with statewide reach or specialized athletic programs can still dominate certain sports, particularly at the

state tournament level. Although the need for reform is greatest in Class A, creating separate conferences for public

and private schools will improve fairness across all class sizes by minimizing recruitment and resource disparities and

providing every student-athlete a more level playing field. By separating public and private schools into distinct MSHSL

conferences, this act promotes fairness by ensuring that schools compete against others with similar enrollment bases,

access to resources, and recruitment boundaries. This change will restore confidence in the integrity of high school

sports, promote balanced competition, and encourage broader participation across Minnesota’s diverse school systems.

Charter schools will not be included in the private school division under this act. While they often feature specialized

academic or athletic focuses, charter schools are publicly funded and held accountable to state and federal education

standards. They must follow public oversight regulations and cannot selectively admit students in the same way private

institutions can. Because of this, charter schools will remain classified with public schools within the MSHSL. This

distinction ensures that classification decisions reflect governance and funding structures, not simply enrollment or

specialization. Furthermore, this act ensures that the MSHSL retains flexibility to review and adjust classification

structures over time, allowing the system to evolve as school populations, resources, and competitive landscapes change.

By taking this step, Minnesota can set an example for other states by prioritizing equity, sportsmanship, and

opportunity for all student-athletes.

 

Public school – Any school funded primarily through local, state, or federal public sources and subject to public

accountability standards.

Private school – Any non-public school that operates independently of public school districts, including parochial and

independent institutions.

Charter school – A publicly funded school operating under a charter with the state or school district, which remains

accountable to state and federal education standards.

Conference – A grouping of schools organized by the MSHSL for the purposes of athletic competition, typically based on

factors such as enrollment size, school type, and geographic location.

Class size / Classification – The division of schools into groups (A, AA, AAA, AAAA) based primarily on student

enrollment for the purposes of equitable athletic competition.

Recruiting – The process by which schools encourage or solicit student-athletes to enroll or transfer specifically for

athletic purposes.

Competitive balance – A condition in which schools have relatively equal opportunities to compete successfully, taking

into account resources, enrollment size, and recruitment policies.

Student-athlete – A student enrolled in a school who participates in organized athletic programs sanctioned by the

MSHSL.

Resource disparities – Differences between schools in terms of financial support, facilities, coaching staff, or other

factors that can affect athletic competitiveness.

Equitable competition – A level of competition in which no school has a structural advantage over another due to

enrollment size, recruiting practices, or funding disparities.

 

Implementation of this Act shall not require additional state funding, as the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL)

will manage the creation and organization of separate public and private school conferences within its existing budget.

Adjustments to scheduling, conference administration, and state tournament arrangements will be coordinated using

current resources.

If additional funding is ever necessary, it may come from reallocation of MSHSL funds, contributions from participating

schools, supplemental grants from the Minnesota Department of Education or local school districts, or private donations

and sponsorships. The MSHSL may allocate available resources as needed to ensure that all conferences have equitable

access to facilities, officiating, and tournament opportunities, thereby maintaining fairness and supporting

student-athlete participation across Minnesota schools.

 

Any school that knowingly misrepresents enrollment data, violates classification guidelines, or fails to comply with

conference assignments under this Act shall be subject to penalties determined by the Minnesota State High School League

(MSHSL). Penalties may include loss of eligibility for conference championships, suspension from state tournaments for

the affected sport or sports, and administrative review with potential probationary status for subsequent athletic

seasons. The MSHSL shall establish a committee responsible for monitoring compliance, investigating violations, and

resolving disputes regarding conference assignments and classifications. Enforcement shall ensure that all schools

adhere to the provisions of this Act, thereby maintaining fairness, competitive balance, and integrity in Minnesota high

school athletics.

 

This Act shall take effect on July 1st, 2026.